Shark and Seagull: The World Rivalry Between France and the United States

Author: (French) Devillers Pan / Ma Shengli
Publisher:
Publishing Date: 2006-05-01
Features: Shark and Seagull is a new book written by Devillers Pan, the former French Foreign Minister and current Interior Minister. In this book, Devillers Pan discusses the ideological and historical foundations of France's future actions and dedicates considerable space to commenting on the Iraq crisis. Devillers Pan uses the metaphors of "shark" and "seagull" to seek a middle ground between opposing forces. Beyond exploring topics such as power and law, national identity and globalization, and human rights and the economy, the book also devotes 70 pages specifically to the Iraq crisis. Devillers Pan believes that in a world where many countries (not just France) reject the high-pressure policies of the superpower—America—the Iraq crisis reflects the complex relationships between nations. In this book, Devillers Pan uses the metaphors of "shark" and "seagull" to explain the differences between American political thinking and French political thinking. He argues that American thinking is based on Darwin's theory of biological evolution, advocating violence and hegemonic logic—the "shark" spirit. In contrast, France takes the opposite approach, promoting the "world spirit" and advocating for global stability, which is Devillers Pan's "seagull" thinking. These two ways of thinking are bound to clash in the real world. Which one will dominate the world? In the end, the author declares: "The first globalization of the Renaissance was led by Spain; the second globalization triggered by the Industrial Revolution was led by the Anglo-Saxon nations. Can we not bet that the third globalization, which focuses on identity, culture, and symbols, will once again ignite France's ambition?" Clearly, Devillers Pan holds great expectations for France (or Europe) to lead the world's future trends and has set the direction for France's future foreign policy. We should learn to draw strength from the past to forge a new will, rather than linger on a bygone golden age. Only with this belief can we overcome misfortune. The people of the world and nations have the means to reshuffle the deck, and the predicted disasters have not yet occurred. Conflicts between culture and religion are not inevitable. There still exists a collective consciousness determined to defy these curses and create conditions for shared living. The levers in our hands can lift the heaviest burdens and break down the walls of belief. We are at a critical juncture, where authoritarianism and tolerance, the sky and the sea, the shark and the seagull, all hold the faint possibility of reconciliation. This perfect union of opposites is praised by philosophers and poets. Indeed, a new cosmopolitanism can be achieved, a new consciousness can emerge, and values worth defending do exist. The purpose of this book is merely to clarify our shared journey so that we can move forward more resolutely along the path of tomorrow.